NFL Notes: Broncos, Browns, Lions

Broncos

Broncos HC Vance Joseph explained that their analytics department in Miami played a large role for them last year and he plans to director of analytics Mitch Tanney in the both this year.

“In Miami last year, the analytics department played a big role for us as far as the advanced scouting and game-day management, also,” Joseph said, via Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. “Mitch is a bright guy. He’s great with the numbers and the rules. For me, it’s going to be an important part of what we do as far as our game plan each week, and as far as game management. He’s going to be directly involved with game management during game day. He’ll be in the box and will be tied right to me.”

“The information they give us is the information that we’ve been researching as coaches for years. But it takes us longer to do it because we coach football and are coaching players and having meetings, so their information, as far as the numbers of the game, is critical, in my opinion,” Joseph said. “Each week in Miami last year, we had those guys research what the teams were doing wrong and what they weren’t doing wrong. You can kind of game plan for what they’re doing wrong, and to attack what they were doing wrong. It’s a big part of what I believe in.”

Browns

According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Browns second-round QB DeShone Kizer has “considerably narrowed the gap” on Cody Kessler in their quarterback competition and could push him for the starting job in training camp.

Kizer apparently showed the team enough during workouts to warrant the No. 1 spot on the second day of the team’s recent minicamp.

Cabot says that Kizer made a number of impressive plays along with his share of mistakes.

“We already have some capable guys here in Brock and Cody, and we want to see if (Kizer) can compete with those guys,” Browns HC Hue Jackson explained last week. “Obviously, there are some things he does really well, and there are some things where he’s still a young quarterback. He’s still learning, but he’s emerging. I do believe that. We’ll see how this all unfolds.”

Browns QBs coach David Lee added that he believes Kizer is in the same mold as Ben Rothlisberger and Joe Flacco.

“What I see in him is a big, strong, guy which is defined in this division by Ben and by Joe Flacco, and this kid’s in that mold,” said Lee. “He’s 6-4 3/4, he’s got a 10-inch hand, he’s smart, he can run, he move. He’s not (Bills quarterback) Tyrod Taylor, but he can run and make plays. He’s got a great future.

“He’s just a long way from being ready. He’s not ready, but he’s climbing on it and he’s making progress.”

Lions

• Michael Rothstein of ESPN takes a shot at projecting the Lions’ 53-man roster.
• Some notable roster cuts from Rothstein’s projection include: rookie QB Brad Kaaya, RB Matt Asiata, OT Corey Robinson, OT Tony Hills, and rookie DT Jeremiah Ledbetter.